Media Releases

AWRI Board is complemented with legal expertise from Foster’s

AWRI Managing Director, Professor Sakkie Pretorius, announced the appointment to the AWRI Board of Mr Paul Conroy, Legal Affairs Director for Foster’s Group. “I am pleased to announce that Paul Conroy has accepted the AWRI Board’s nomination to join them as a ‘Special Qualifications Director’. Paul’s skills, expertise and passion for the industry will be an invaluable asset to the Australian wine industry’s own R&D organisation.”

Paul has had a successful legal career in a leading Australian law firm and had practiced as a corporate lawyer on the firm’s behalf in Australia, Asia and the UK. Following this, Paul has successfully operated in both senior legal and management roles reporting to the CEO in two significant Australian public companies. He has a deep understanding of the legal, corporate governance and change management issues that an international business faces, as well as proven experience at achieving practical results with management.

“The AWRI Board is currently in the process of finalising the appointment of its second ‘Special Qualifications Director’, which should be completed in the next couple of months,” said Professor Pretorius. “We are delighted that Paul has accepted the Board’s nomination, and I am personally looking forward to working with him, and to his contribution to the Australian wine industry in this capacity.”

The AWRI Board comprises some of Australia’s most well respected industry members as well as a representative from The University of Adelaide. The members are: